Wall structures

ABSTRACT

Wall structure for exhibition purposes having a panel-shaped element with a profile frame with cover layers enclosing a filler layer. The frame is closed as a square box profile with a circular longitudinal slot therein for mounting purpose.

United States Patent Sairata et al. [4 1 Aug. 22, 1972 WALL STRUCTURES[56] References Cited [72] Inventors: D8011 Safrata, 55 Himount D12,Wil- UNITED STATES PATENTS lowdale, Ontario, Canada; Horst B if zoppoterweg 7, 3182 3,191,725 6/1965 Russell ..52/585 sfelde, Germany; HansBarman", 3,513,606 5/1970 Jones ..52/239 G 3,563,578 2/1971 Meller..52/585 zi i af ii i' 2g 3,378,977 4/1968 Vervloet ..52/5 84 both of318 wolfsburg, Germany 3,439,465 4/1969 DuPre ....52/5 84 [73] Assignee:Volkswagenwert Akt., Wolfsburg, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Germany797,450 7/1958 Great Britain ..52/495 [22] Filed: Sept. 14, 1970 PrimaryExaminer-Frank L. Abbott [21] PP N05 71,678 Assistant Examiner-James L.Ridgill, Jr.

Attorney-Watson, Cole, Grindle & Watson [30] Foreign ApplicationPriority Data S 17 1969 G P19 46 992 2 [57] ABS CT I. ep ermany Wallstructure for exhibit on purposes having a panel- 52 US. Cl ..52/495,52/584, 287/l89.36 D Shaped element with a Profile frame with coverlayers [51] int. Cl. ..E04b 1/40, E040 1/16 enclosing a filler layer-The frame is closed as a Square [58] Field of Search 52/495 586 584,993, 585, box profile with a circular longitudinal slot therein formounting purpose.

4 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures lb 6b 1 WALL STRUCTURES This inventionrelates to a wall structure especially for exhibition structures andcases, with a panel-shaped element containing a profile frame providedon both sides with cover layers which enclose a filling layer. Theprofile frame may be composed of light metal.

In exhibitions or similar events, special walls, boxes or separatespaces for exhibited objects, discussions, etc., are required in hallsor even outdoors. The erection of such walls is accomplished in a knownmanner by means of prefabricated wall surfaces or wall surfaces thathave been fitted right on location spot which are mounted on specialframes, structures or similar elements. This method of constructionhowever is cumbersome, costly and time consuming.

It is an object of the invention to simplify the erection of such wallsand thus to provide saving in time and money and therefore making itfeasible.

According to the invention, it is a further object to provide theprofile frame developed as a closed frame with a preferably square boxsection having on its outside a circular longitudinal slot for thepurpose of mounting which has been broadened at the corners of theframe.

This wall structure according to the invention, offers manypossibilities for mounting. One of these is distinguished by the factthat for the connection of the panelshaped elements, connecting deviceshave been provided which in each instance contain two pressure plates ofan approximately square base surface, and having a screw to pull thepressure plates together. An annular elastic element surrounds the screwand is arranged between the pressure plates, and four clamping cams arearranged in a plane running between the pressure plates, which camsprotruding with conical feet into the area of recesses in the surfacesof the two-pressure plates facing each other, lie between the elasticelement and the corresponding bevels of the recess and which havepreferably circular disk-shaped clamping plates outside the area of thepressure plates. The plates are dimensioned so that they can be slidthrough the width of the longitudinal slot in the profile frame intosaid frame while the cross sectional dimensions of the connectingelements between the feet and the clamping plate have been harmonizedwith the width of the circular longitudinal slot. One could call thisarrangement a cubic connecting device.

The assembly is accomplished in such a way that a circular clampingplate of the clamping block is inserted in the enlarged slot of theprofile frame and it is pushed forward laterally to such a point thatthe clamping plate will be located below the narrow slot. Logically, theremaining plates are then put together. By pulling the pressure platestogether by means of the screws, all elements that have been puttogether will be firmly braced and securely held.

Two plate elements abutting against each other on their front sides areconnected according to another embodiment of the invention,characterized by the fact that for a front side connection ofpanel-shaped ele' ments, coupling elements have been provided which ineach instance contain a bar-shaped coupling element with a square crosssection permitting the said coupling element to slide into the profileframes of the panelshaped elements that are to be connected by theenlargements of the longitudinal slots, as well as at least two clampingscrews to brace in the profile frames, the coupling element slid intothe said profile frames.

Similarly the panel-shaped elements can be provided with feet. The footelements likewise developed as a bar-shaped body with a square crosssection have been harmonized in such a manner that they can be slid intothe profile frame. Bracing is accomplished by means of a screw arrangedin the body of the foot element.

In order to be able to compensate for any unevenness, an adjusting screwwith a round head has been arranged in the lower end of the foot.Special plate-like supporting surfaces will prevent foot marks onsensitive floors and will assure a safe stand of the panel-like elementsput together to constitute a wall.

A crack developed betweentwo sides of the profile frame lying one besidethe other will be filled by a hollow molding made of some elastic rawmaterial which has longitudinal bars on two opposite sides, the width ofwhich has been harmonized with the slot of the profile frame and is heldthereon.

The panel-shaped elements can also serve as supports for light fixturesor can be developed as a lamp directly.

Further objectswill be apparent from the following description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which;

FIG. 1 is a front view of a section of the wall partly in section,

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the cubic connecting device,

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line III-III of FIG. 1, in the direction ofthe arrows,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the filling molding for a joint,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a coupling element,

FIG. 6 is aside view of a foot element, and

FIG 7 is a sectional view of a foot-plate.

A panel-shaped element 1 has a closed frame 1a,

. whose preferably square box profile has a slot lb extending along theouter periphery of the frame and which has been broadened at the cornersof the frame and has been provided on both sides with double plates 10which enclose a filler layer 1d.

The connection of the elements 1 with a wall 2 is accomplished by meansof a cubic connection arrangement 3, FIGS. 1 to 3. It consists of twopressure plates 3a of approximately square base surface, of a screw 4for pulling the pressure plates 3a together, an annular elastic element5 surrounding the screw 4 and arranged between the pressure plates 30,and four clamping cams 6 arranged in a plane running between thepressure plates 3a and having conical feet 6a which abut againstcorresponding beveled surfaces 3b of a recess provided on the sides ofthe pressure plates 3a opposite each other. Furthermore the clampingcams 6 preferably have circular clamping plates 6b protruding from theapproximately cubic contour of the pressure plates 3a held together bythe screw 4, whereby the diameter of the connecting element 6c of theclamping cams 6 has been harmonized with the slot lb extending about theouter periphery of the profile frame 1 a. The broadened portions 1e ofthe slot provided at the edges of the frame In makes possible theinsertion of the clamping cams 6 into the profile frames la. Bytightening the screw 4, the panel elements 1 connected with one anotherby means of the clamping cams 6, are firmly held together.

The spaces 7 resulting during the assembly of the panel elements 1 in awall 2 are filled by means of a hollow molding 8 with longitudinal barsor ridges 8a attached to opposite sides thereof, said molding being madepreferably of an elastic material and the width of the bars 8aharmonized with slot lb of the profile frame and resting in said frame,FIG. 4.

For the connection of two elements 1 abutting against each other at thefront sides, there is provided a coupling element 9, FIG. 5, and thisbar-shaped coupling element 9, has a square body provided with a groove9a harmonized with the slot 1e and the inside dimensions of the profileframe la, and is slid in each time about half way into the profileframes 1a of two abutting elements 1 and is braced by means of clampingscrews 10 provided in the coupling element 9.

The support of one element 1 in relation to a floor surface isaccomplished by means of feet 11, FIG. 6. The bar-shaped body of onefoot element 11 whose square cross-section has likewise been providedwith the inside dimensions of the profile frame 1a, is slid into thebroadened slot 1c of the profile frame 1a and is braced by means of aclamping screw 12 arranged in a groove-like recess 1 1a.

Unevennesses in a floor surface can be compensated for by means ofcompensating screw 13 provided in the lower part of foot 11. In order toavoid as much as possible, the foot marks in a floor and in order toachieve a better seating of the feet 11, plate-like supporting surfaces14, FIG. 7, are used, whereby a balljoint-like connection between foot11 and supporting surface 14 is created by the countersunk portion orbolt 14a in the supporting surface 14 and by the round head of theadjusting screw or bolt 13.

In another advantageous and decorative development of the invention, onecan also mount light fixtures, shelves or similar devices on the profileframe la.

We claim:

1. Wall structure comprising interconnected panelshaped elements eachincluding hollow frame elements defining a closed frame, each of saidframe elements being square in cross-section and having a continuouslongitudinalv slot in its outer wall, and each said slot being enlargedat each comer of said frame, connecting means for interconnecting saidpanel-shaped elements, together comprising a pair of substantiallyrectangular plates, a screw fastener for securing said plates together,an annular elastic element located between said plates and surroundingsaid fastener, a cam element located between said plates and extendingoutwardly of each of the four sides of said plates, each said camelement including a conical element in mating engagement withcorresponding conical recess sections provided in said plates, saidconical elements also contacting said elastic element, each said camelement further including a clamping disc extending outwardly of saidpressure plates, and a connecting element between each said disc andeach said conical element, each said disc being insertable through anenlarged slot of one of said frame elements so as to lie behind theouter wall thereof after being slid along the longitudinal slot ther of.

2. Wa 1 structure according to claim 1, m which foot elements areprovided for erection of said panel-shaped elements, said foot elementseach having a bar-shaped body with a square cross-section permitting thepartial insertion of said body into the enlarged slot of said frameelements, and at least-one clamping screw for bracing said insertedbar-shaped body.

3. Wall structure according to claim 1 wherein foot elements areprovided which have a bar-shaped body with a square cross-sectionpermitting the partial insertion of said body into the enlarged slot ofsaid frame elements of the panel-shaped element and at least oneclamping screw for bracing said inserted bar-shaped body, and saidbar-shaped body having supporting surfaces at one end which can belongitudinally adjusted by means of a screw.

4. Wall structure according to claim 1, in which a hollow molding isprovided for the filling of the joints between said interconnectedframes, said hollow molding being composed of an elastic material whichhas longitudinal bars provided on opposite sides at a width permittingits insertion into the longitudinal slot in said frame elements.

1. Wall structure comprising interconnected panel-shaped elements eachincluding hollow frame elements defining a closed frame, each of saidframe elements being square in cross-section and having a continuouslongitudinal slot in its outer wall, and each said slot being enlargedat each corner of said frame, connecting means for interconnecting saidpanel-shaped elements, together comprising a pair of substantiallyrectangular plates, a screw fastener for securing said plates together,an annular elastic element located between said plates and surroundingsaid fastener, a cam element located between said plates and extendingoutwardly of each of the four sides of said plates, each said camelement including a conical element in mating engagement withcorresponding conical recess sections provided in said plates, saidconical elements also contacting said elastic element, each said camelement further including a clamping disc extending outwardly of saidpressure plates, and a connecting element between each said disc andeach said conical element, each said disc being insertable through anenlarged slot of one of said frame elements so as to lie behind theouter wall thereof after being slid along the longitudinal slot thereof.2. Wall structure according to claim 1, in which foot elements areprovided for erection of said panel-shaped elements, said foot elementseach having a bar-shaped body with a square cross-section permitting thepartial insertion of said body into the enlarged slot of said frameelements, and at least one clamping screw for bracing said insertedbar-shaped body.
 3. Wall structure according to claim 1 wherein footelements are provided which have a bar-shaped body with a squarecross-section permitting the partial insertion of said body into theenlarged slot of said frame elements of the panel-shaped element and atleast one clamping screw for bracing said inserted bar-shaped body, andsaid bar-shaped body having supporting surfaces at one end which can belongitudinally adjusted by means of a screw.
 4. Wall structure accordingto claim 1, in which a hollow molding is provided for the filling of thejoints between said interconnected frames, said hollow molding beingcomposed of an elastic material which has longitudinal bars provided onopposite sides at a width permitting its insertion into the longitudinalslot in said frame elements.